Method and system for pushing e-mails to a mobile device

ABSTRACT

Method of and system for transferring a message stored in a computer arrangement ( 12 ) to a switched-n mobile device ( 17 ( i )), with the following steps::  
     transmitting an alert message from said computer arrangement ( 12 ) to said mobile device ( 17 ( i )) via a first mobile network ( 19 );  
     transmitting said message from said computer arrangement ( 12 ) to said mobile device ( 17 ( i )) upon request from said mobile device ( 17 ( i )) via a second mobile network ( 15 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a system for activating alocal terminal connectable to a first network.

BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM DEFINITION

[0002] It is known that a server of, for example, an “Internet ServiceProvider” (ISP) can announce to a user of a mobile device who is loggingin or has already logged in that there is new e-mail, news, or otheritems for that user. Another possibility is that the user, after loggingin to the server, asks if any new items have arrived. This can be doneusing, e.g., the “Wireless Application Protocol” (WAP).

[0003] All this is, however, normally only possible if there is anactual connection with the server. If a user wishes to be notified assoon as any new mail etc. arrives on the server, this is only possibleif there is a continuous or very frequently established connectionbetween the mobile device and the server. This means that the user mustregularly establish a connection with the server in order to checkwhether any mail, messages, updates, etc. are present on the server.Since this will often not be the case, however, this procedure is bothinefficient and costly both for the users and for the service provider.Of course, keeping a connection open continuously is even more expensivefor residential and small business users. There is a desire in themarket for an alerting system and method for alerting a user of a mobiledevice, e.g., a mobile telephone, a laptop, a Personal Digital Agent(PDA), an organizer, etc., using a wireless communication protocol, thatan e-mail has arrived at an e-mail server. Here, e-mail is to beunderstood in a broad sense, i.e., as including any type ofelectronically transmittable mail, including e.g. facsimiles.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,330 B1 discloses a system and a method foralerting a mobile device that an e-mail has arrived at a mail server.The server is connected to a mobile network, such as the GSM (GlobalSystem for Mobile Communication) network and to a network, e.g. theInternet, arranged to transmit e-mail messages. The server storese-mails addressed to the mobile device subscriber. Upon receiving ane-mail, the server establishes an SMS message including an agent havinga reference to the e-mail and to the server. The server transmits thisSMS message through an SMS gateway via the mobile network to the mobiledevice. In a main embodiment, the mobile device prompted by the receivedSMS message displays a message to the subscriber to connect the mobiledevice to a Personal Computer (PC), e.g., via a PCMCIA (PersonalComputer Memory Card International Association) connection. After havingestablished this connection, the SMS message is sent to the PC whichruns a special program to process the SMS message. The program repliesby establishing a request sent to the e-mail server via the mobiledevice. Upon receiving the request, the e-mail server sends the storede-mail to the PC via both the SMS gateway and the mobile device using anSMS protocol. In an embodiment, the functionality of the PC may beincluded in a computer included in the mobile device. A disadvantage ofthis known technique is that the e-mail message is sent to the PC viathe SMS gateway using the SMS protocol, preventing e-mail messages to besent to the mobile device with a high rate.

[0005] PCT/EP01/09988 of the present applicant, not published prior tothe priority date of the present application, discloses a method andsystem for activation of a local terminal. The local terminal is, forinstance, a PC that is, normally, not connected to an e-mail server (orany other kind of remote server). An additional unit is provided, thatmay be a separate unit or a unit included in the terminal and that isalways accessible for the server and arranged to communicate with theterminal. Upon receiving a message, e.g. an e-mail, addressed to theterminal the server establishes an alerting message including anactivation code. The alerting message is sent to the additional unit viaa predetermined network and, then, upon receipt thereof, the additionalunit activates the terminal. The activated terminal establishes aconnection with the server via another network for receiving the storedmessage. The terminal can be a mobile device and the message stored bythe server can be an e-mail. However, this document does not refer tosituations in which the mobile is connected to two mobile networks.Moreover, it does not refer to situations in which messages stored bythe server cannot be transmitted to the terminal via the other networkdirectly when the e-mail client of the terminal does not support atransmission protocol related to that server, e.g., POP3. Moreover, thisdocument (PCT/EP01/09988) does not refer to situations, where one of thewireless networks supports transport of the stored message but does notsupport push functionality, and the other wireless network supports pushfunctionality.

SUMMARY

[0006] The present invention provides, in a first embodiment, anextension of the general idea of PCT/EP01/09988 to situations in whichthere are two mobile networks. In embodiments, the other problemsreferred to are solved.

[0007] To that end, the invention provides a method of transferring amessage stored in a computer arrangement to a switched-on mobile device,comprising:

[0008] transmitting an alert message from said computer arrangement tosaid mobile device via a first network;

[0009] transmitting said message from said computer arrangement to saidmobile device upon request from said mobile device via a second network;

[0010] both said first and second networks being mobile networks.

[0011] An intermediate step may be establishing an on-line connectionbetween said computer arrangement and said mobile device;

[0012] The first network may be arranged to utilise a first protocol,the second network may be arranged to use a second protocol.

[0013] In an embodiment, the method may comprise sending said messagefrom said computer arrangement to a protocol translator using a thirdprotocol, translating said message in said third protocol to a messagein said second protocol before transmission to said mobile device.

[0014] The method is especially applicable in case the computerarrangement is an email server and the message is an e-mail message.

[0015] In an embodiment, the second protocol is HTTP.

[0016] Examples of the second wireless network are either GPRS or UMTS,whereas the first wireless network may be GMS.

[0017] The invention also relates to a communication system comprising acomputer arrangement storing a message in a memory and arranged totransmit said message to a switched-on mobile device, said computerarrangement being arranged to:

[0018] transmitting an alert message from said computer arrangement tosaid mobile device via a first network using a first protocol;

[0019] waiting for an on-line connection to be established between saidcomputer arrangement and said mobile device;

[0020] transmitting said message from said computer arrangement to saidmobile device upon request from said mobile device via a second networkusing a second protocol;

[0021] both said first and second networks being mobile networks.

[0022] The invention also relates to, a mobile device arranged toreceive an alert message through a first mobile network, toautomatically generate a HTTP get message, to transmit the HTTP getmessage to a computer arrangement storing a message for the mobiledevice and to receive the message from said computer arrangement as aHTTP reply message.

[0023] The invention will now be described in more detail with referenceto a working example of a system architecture that is suitable forperforming the method according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 shows a schematic example of a system architectureaccording to PCT/EP01/09988.

[0025]FIG. 2 shows a schematic example of the system architectureaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

[0026]FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram explaining the operation of theinvention;

[0027]FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a computer arrangement that can beused in the invention.

DESCRIPTION

[0028] For the purpose of teaching the invention, preferred embodimentsof the method and devices of the invention are described in the sequel.It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that otheralternative and equivalent embodiments of the invention can be conceivedand reduced to practice without departing from the true spirit of theinvention, the scope of the invention being only limited by the claimsas finally granted.

[0029] Now, the invention will be explained in detail, starting with adescription of FIG. 1 that is also explained in PCT/EP01/09988 and notpart of the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 1 shows a system for activating a local “Non-permanentlyAccessible” terminal 7 connectable to a first network 1, e.g. theInternet. The terminal 7 is called “Non-permanently Accessible” sincemost terminals like PC's do not have a permanent on-line connection withnetworks like the Internet. A local “Permanently Accessible” activationmodule 6 is connected to a second network 5 (e.g. PSTN or ISDN) on theone hand and to the local terminal 7 on the other hand. This activationmodule 6 is called “Permanently Accessible” since it has an on-lineconnection with the second network 5. The activation module 6, afterreceiving an activation code (a) via second network 5, activates theterminal 7 via an activation signal (b). This activation can refer to avariety of things, for example control via the terminal 7 of (household)equipment, etc. In particular, however, the activation module 6(subsequently) activates a connection between the local terminal 7 and aserver 2 (c) via the first network 1, which server 2 further activatesor controls or communicates with the terminal 7. The second network 5passes on to the activation module 6 an identifier (“Calling LineIdentifier”—CLI) of a node 8 via which the server 2 connects to thesecond network 5. The activation module 6 records this identifier (CLI)and activates the terminal 7 in accordance with the value of the CLI.

[0031] The server 2 comprises means, represented by selection means 4,for - via various network nodes, each with different identifiers(CLIs)—connecting to the second network 5, with the aim of activatingthe activation module 6 and indirectly the terminal 7 in various ways,in accordance with the value of the CLI recorded by the activationmodule 6.

[0032] The first network 1 and the second network 5 can in principle becompletely separate networks. The first network 1 and the second network5 can, however, also belong (in part) to the same physical network. Ingeneral, this latter possibility is usually the case: for residentialuse, the internet 1 is usually accessed via a PSTN or ISDN connection,via a PSTN or ISDN modem 3 and an ISP (not shown).

[0033] In an embodiment of FIG. 1, the terminal 7 could be a mobiledevice such as a mobile telephone.

[0034] The activation code (a) transmitted to the activation module 6could comprise a further message, e.g., an SMS (Short Message Service)message that can be read by terminal 7 after being activated, whereasthe first network 1 may be used to transmit email messages stored in theserver 2 to terminal 7 after the terminal is activated and has send arequest to that effect to the server 2.

[0035] However, the mechanism as explained with reference to FIG. 1cannot be used under all circumstances. E.g., when terminal 7 is amobile device supporting an Internet protocol, like WAP or I-mode, andthe system is arranged to support wireless communications between theserver and the mobile device using GPRS, e-mail messages stored inserver 2 cannot simply be pushed to the mobile device since GPRS doesnot, e.g., support I-mode. The invention solves this problem, as will beexplained with reference to FIG. 2.

[0036]FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of architecture for performing thepresent invention. FIG. 2 shows an e-mail server 12. The e-mail server12 is connected to the Internet 11. Through this connection, the e-mailserver 12 is able to receive e-mails in an SMTP protocol through theInternet 11. The connection between the e-mail server 12 and theInternet 11 is drawn as a fixed connection. However, the connection mayalternatively be wireless. The same applies to all other connectionsthat are drawn as fixed connections in FIG. 2.

[0037] The Internet 11 is connected to other terminals 13(1), 13(2), . .. . These other terminals 13(1), 13(2), . . . may be servers, personalcomputers, etc. able to send e-mails to the e-mail server 12 through theInternet 11.

[0038] Such e-mails may also be transmitted to the e-mail server 12 frommobile devices 17(3), 17(4). Such mobile devices will use a mobilenetwork to transmit the e-mails through the Internet 11 to the e-mailserver 12. For the sake of simplicity, such a mobile network is notdrawn at the upper part of FIG. 2. The mobile devices 17(3), 17(4), areshown to be a mobile telephone. However, instead of being a mobiletelephone, the mobile devices 17(3), 17(4) can be any other known (oryet to be developed) mobile device, such as a pager, a personal digitalagent (PDA), a laptop with mobile communication facilities, etc.

[0039] The e-mail server 12 is connected to a gateway 18 which in turnis connected to 2 mobile networks 15 and 19 and to the Internet 11. Oneof the networks can be a data network like e.g. GPRS or UMTS,, while theother wireless network can be of another type, like e.g. circuitswitched network like GSM. The mobile networks 15 and 19 comprise allkinds of telecommunication hardware and software for performing mobiletelecommunication, as is known to a person skilled in the art. Since thepresent invention is not directed to this part of the architecture ofFIG. 2, no further details will be given. However, the invention is inno way restricted to some specific kind of hardware software forbuilding such mobile networks 15, 19.

[0040]FIG. 2 also shows mobile devices 17(1), 17(2). Again, these mobiledevices 17(1), 17(2) are shown be mobile telephones. However, they canbe any other type of mobile devices as already explained above withreference to mobile devices 17(3), 17(4). Since there may be any numberof mobile devices, below they will be indicated with “17(i), i=1, 2, . .. , I”.

[0041]FIG. 2 also shows a box termed “protocol translator” 14. Theprotocol translator 14 is connected to both the e-mail server 12 and thegateway 18. It's operation will be explained hereinafter with referenceto FIG. 3.

[0042]FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the operation of the system shown inFIG. 2, in accordance with an example. The example relates to an e-mailbeing stored on the email server 12. The e-mail server 12 is to transmitthis e-mail to an addressed mobile device 17(i). However, duringoperation, it may well be that the mobile device 17(i) is switched onbut does not have an on-line connection with the e-mail server 12.Moreover, in accordance with the invention, the wireless communicationprotocol used by mobile network 15, e.g., GPRS, does not support directtransmission (i.e., pushing) of the e-mail to the mobile device 17(i).Still, the e-mail must be sent to the mobile device 17(i). The operationof the system in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 3 solves thisproblem.

[0043] The e-mail server 12 receives an e-mail via the SMTP protocol vianetwork 11.

[0044] The e-mail server 13 stores this e-mail in it's memory.

[0045] Then, the e-mail server 12 generates a PAP (PasswordAuthentication Protocol) message. The e-mail server 12 sends this PAPmessage to the gateway 18.

[0046] Upon receiving the PAP message, the gateway 18 generates an SMSmessage for the addressed mobile device 17(i). Then, the gateway 18sends this SMS message to the addressed mobile device 17(i) via themobile network 19, that may be of the type GSM.

[0047] Upon receiving the SMS message, the addressed mobile device 17(i)generates a HTTP get message. Such a HTTP get message is a message knownas such by persons skilled in the art and is used to get, e.g., a webpage. The mobile device 17(i) may be programmed to generate that HTTPget message, either automatically upon receiving the SMS message or maybe programmed to display a message to the user of the mobile device17(i) upon receiving the SMS message. Then, the user is able to manuallyinstruct the mobile device 17(i) to generate the HTTP get message.

[0048] After the HTTP get message is generated, it is send to thegateway 18 via the mobile network 15. Then the gateway 18 sends thismessage to the protocol translator 14. Then the protocol translator 14translates this HTTP get message into a POP request to the e-mail server12. POP is the Post Office Protocol which is supported by the emailserver 12.

[0049] In the example of FIG. 2, the gateway 18 communicates with themobile devices 17(i) using the GPRS network 15. Nowadays the GPRSnetwork is unable to push emails directly to mobile device 17(i).

[0050] Therefore, the e-mail server 12 after having received the POPrequest from the protocol translator 14 sends the stored e-mail to theprotocol translator 14 via the POP protocol.

[0051] The protocol translator 14, after having received thee-mail viathe POP protocol, translates the received e-mail into a HTTP replymessage. Such a HTTP reply message is known to persons skilled in theart and is used to transmit web pages from a web server to a client. TheHTTP reply message is transmitted to the gateway 18 that forwards theHTTP reply message to the mobile device 17(i).

[0052] Finally, the mobile device 17(i) receives the e-mail HTTP replymessage and shows the content of the e-mail to the user of the mobiledevice 17(i).

[0053] In FIG. 4, an overview is given of a computer arrangement thatcan be used to embody the email server 12. However, also the terminals13(1), 13(2), the gateway 18 and the protocol translator 14 can beembodied in essentially the same way.

[0054] The arrangement comprises a processor 29 for carrying outarithmetic operations.

[0055] The processor 29 is connected to a plurality of memorycomponents, including a hard disk 42, Read Only Memory (ROM) 43,Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) 45, andRandom Access Memory (RAM) 47. Not all of these memory types neednecessarily be provided. Moreover, these memory components need not belocated physically close to the processor 1 but may be located remotefrom the processor 29.

[0056] The processor 29 is also connected to means for inputtinginstructions, data etc. by a user, like a keyboard 49, and a mouse 51.Other input means, such as a touch screen, a track ball and/or a voiceconverter, known to persons skilled in the art may be provided too.

[0057] A reading unit 35 connected to the processor 29 is provided. Thereading unit 35 is arranged to read data from and possibly write data ona data carrier like a floppy disk 37 or a CDROM 39. Other data carriersmay be tapes, DVD, etc,. as is known to persons skilled in the art.

[0058] The processor 29 is also connected to a printer 33 for printingoutput data on paper, as well as to a display 31, for instance, amonitor or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen, or any other type ofdisplay known to persons skilled in the art.

[0059] The processor 29 is connected to at least the Internet 11 (cf.FIG. 2) but may also be connected to a further communication network 53,for instance, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a Local AreaNetwork (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), etc. by means of I/O means 41.The processor 1 is arranged to communicate with other communicationarrangements through the network 53.

[0060] The processor 29 may be implemented as stand alone system, or asa plurality of parallel operating processors each arranged to carry outsubtasks of a larger computer program, or as one or more main processorswith several subprocessors. Parts of the functionality of the inventionmay even be carried out by remote processors communicating withprocessor 29 through the network 53.

[0061] Above, the invention has been explained with reference to ane-mail being stored by an e-mail server 12 that needs to be transmittedto a mobile device 17(i) using the HTTP protocol over a GPRS network 15between gateway 18 and the mobile device 17(i). However, it is to beunderstood that this is an embodiment only.

[0062] Although the protocol translator 14 is shown to be a separateunit outside the email server 12, the protocol translator 14 may,instead, be part of the functionality of the e-mail server 12.Alternatively, the protocol translator 14 may be part of the gateway 18.

[0063] It is observed that the embodiments given above are only examplesand that the scope of protection of the present invention is defined bythe annexed claims only.

1. Method of transferring a message stored in a computer arrangement(12) to a mobile device (17(i)), comprising: transmitting an alertmessage from said computer arrangement (12) to said mobile device(17(i)) via a first network (19); transmitting said message stored insaid computer arrangement (12) to said mobile device (17(i)) uponrequest from said mobile device (17(i)) via a second network (15);wherein both said first and second networks being mobile networks (15,19).
 2. Method according to claim 1 comprising the step establishing anon-line connection between said computer arrangement (12) and saidmobile device (17(i)).
 3. Method according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst network (19) is arranged to utilize a first protocol and whereinsaid second network (15) is arranged to utilize a second protocol. 4.Method according to claim 3, comprising sending said message from saidcomputer arrangement (12) to a protocol translator (14) using a thirdprotocol, translating said message in said third protocol to a messagein said second protocol before transmission to said mobile device(17(i)).
 5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said computerarrangement is an e-mail server (12).
 6. Method according to claim 5,wherein said message is an e-mail message.
 7. Method according to claim1, wherein said second protocol is HTTP.
 8. Method according to claim 1,wherein said second wireless network (15) is either GPRS or UMTS. 9.Method according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless network is GSM.10. Method according to claim 1, comprising establishing an on-lineconnection between said computer arrangement (12) and said mobile device(17(i)) either automatically by said mobile device (17(i)) or by saidmobile device (17(i)) after being instructed to do so by a user of themobile device (17(i)).
 11. Communication system comprising a computerarrangement storing a message in a memory and arranged to transmit saidmessage to a switched-on mobile device (17(i)), said computerarrangement being arranged to: transmitting an alert message from saidcomputer arrangement (12) to said mobile device (17(i)) via a firstnetwork (19); transmitting said message from said computer arrangement(12) to said mobile device (17(i)) upon request from said mobile device(17(i)) via a second network (15); wherein said first and secondnetworks are mobile networks (15, 19).
 12. Communication systemaccording to claim 11 arranged to establish an on-line connectionbetween said computer arrangement (12) and said mobile device (17(i)).13. Communication system according to claim 11, wherein said firstnetwork (19) is arranged to utilize a first protocol and wherein saidsecond network (15) is arranged to utilize a second protocol. 14.Communication system according to claim 13, comprising a protocoltranslator (14), wherein said computer arrangement (12) is arranged tosend said message to said protocol translator (14) using a thirdprotocol and said protocol translator is arranged to translate saidmessage in said third protocol to a message in said second protocolbefore transmission to said mobile device (17(i)).
 15. Communicationsystem according to claim 14, wherein said protocol translator (14) isincluded in the computer arrangement (12).
 16. Communication systemaccording to claim 12, wherein said computer arrangement is an e-mailserver (12).
 17. Communication system according to claim 16, whereinsaid message is an e-mail stored at the e-mail server (12). 18.Communication system according to claim 12, wherein the system comprisesa gateway (18) between the computer arrangement (12) and the first andsecond mobile networks (15, 19).
 19. Communication system according toclaim 18, wherein, in operation, the computer arrangement (12), uponreceiving said message, establishes a PAP message and transmits this PAPmessage via a PAP protocol to said gateway (18), and the gateway (18),upon receiving said PAP message, generates an SMS message for saidmobile device (17(i)) including said alert message.
 20. Communicationsystem according to claim 12, wherein the system comprises at least onemobile device (17(i)).
 21. Communication system according to claim 20,wherein said mobile device (17(i)) is arranged to generate an HTTP getmessage upon receiving said alert message, either automatically or afterhaving received an instruction to that effect from a user of the mobiledevice (17(i)).
 22. Communication system according to claim 21, whereinsaid protocol translator (14) is arranged to translate said message to aHTTP reply message.
 23. Mobile device arranged to receive an alertmessage through a first mobile network (15), to automatically generate aHTTP get message, to transmit the HTTP get message to a computerarrangement (12) storing a message for the mobile device (17(i)) and toreceive the message from said computer arrangement (12) as a HTTP replymessage.